Gear honing machine

ABSTRACT

A multi-surface machining apparatus and method for simultaneously machining the center bore of a gear workpiece concentric to the pitch circle of the gear teeth, and machining one or both of the end faces of the gear workpiece perpendicular to the axis of the center bore. The gear workpiece is rotated in a centerless manner by a pair of master gears comprising a driving gear and a braked retainer gear. The master gears improve the surface finish characteristics of the tooth flanks of the gear teeth while rotating the gear workpiece. Simultaneously, a first machining means is reciprocated axially in the gear workpiece center bore, and a second machining means is reciprocated over one or both of the end faces of the gear workpiece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the center bore.

United States Patent 91 Eiiis et ai. [451 [5 GEAR HONKNG MAtIHllNE 2,080,941 5/1937 Hutchinson ..51/103 R 2,478,607 8/1949 Theler a 31.... ...51/103 WH [75] Inventors" Myron Ryal 3,490,179 1/1970 Militzer et al. ..51/e7 Czubak, Detroit; McDoraaid Keith A., Union Lake, all of Mich.

Primary Examiner0thell M. Simpson Att0rney.lames H. Bower [57] ABSTRACT A multi-surface machining apparatus and method for simultaneously machining the center bore of a gear workpiece concentric to the pitch circle of the gear teeth, and machining one or both of the end faces of the gear workpiece perpendicular to the axis of the center bore. The gear workpiece is rotated in a centerless manner by a pair of master gears comprising a driving gear and a braked retainer gear. The master gears improve the surface finish characteristics'of the tooth flanks of the gear teeth while rotating the gear workpiece. Simultaneously, a first machining means is reciprocated axially in the gear workpiece center bore, and a second machining means is reciprocated over one or both of the end faces of the gear work piece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the center bore.

14 Qlaims, 35 Drawing Figures Apr. 24,1973

Patented A ril 24, 1973 20 Sheets-Sheet 5 A T TO RNE V Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,829

20 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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Patented April 24, 1973 ATTORNEY Patented April 24, 1973 Z30 Sheets-Shoot /NVENTOR$ A T TOR/V5 V Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,829

20 Sheets-Sheet 9 F I C5. I l

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Patented April 24, 1973 20 Sheets-Sheet l1 Aza/A 6. (220677,? y X477 4. A7 $044410 v ATTORNEY Patented April 24, 1973 2G Sheets-Sheet 1 Z Patented April 24, 1973 20 Sheets-Sheet 16 INVENTORJ' 44/60 I? [AA/6" ATTORNEY Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,829

20 Sheets-Sheet 11') CYCLE 600 CYCLE sToP hl sTART HEAD IS UP IcR 2 6CR-I SOL.5

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1. In a machine for machining rotatable workpieces having a characteristic circle, a workhead for handling rotatable workpieces including: a. means for rotating a rotatable workpiece in a centerless manner about a first axis coaxial with the center of said characteristic circle at a work station; b. means for clamping the rotatable workpiece in said work station against axial movement; c. a loader mechanism for loading a rotatable workpiece into said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece, comprising:
 1. a base plate;
 2. a power operated workpiece pusher means operatively mounted for pushing a workpiece along said base plate to said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece;
 3. a workpiece guide means disposed over said base plate for guiding said workpiece as it is pushed along said base plate by said pusher means into engagement with said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece; d. means for feeding rotatable workpieces into said loader mechanism; and, e. means for unloading said rotatable workpiece from said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece.
 2. a power operated workpiece pusher means operatively mounted for pushing a workpiece along said base plate to said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece;
 2. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said workpiece guide means includes,
 2. a resilient guide means transversely disposed over the base plate adjacent the termination end of the guide plate edge, and having the outer end fixed and the inner end free to move, whereby when a rotatable workpiece is pushed along said base plate, the resilient guide means will engage the workpiece after it leaves the termination end of the guide plate edge and move it into meshing engagement with said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece.
 3. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for feeding rotatable workpieces into said loader mechanism comprises: a. means for storing a plurality of rotatable workpieces; b. means for feeding a single rotatable workpiece from said plurality of workpieces on the storing means while retaining the remainder of the plurality of workpieces on the storing means.
 3. a workpiece guide means disposed over said base plate for guiding said workpiece as it is pushed along said base plate by said pusher means into engagement with said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece; d. means for feeding rotatable workpieces into said loader mechanism; and, e. means for unloading said rotatable workpiece from said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece.
 4. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for feeding a single rotatable workpiece from said storing means comprises: a. a pivotally mounted block having a bore therethrough; b. means for normally biasing said block to a position adjacent said storing means, with said bore aligned with the storing means to receive a rotatable workpiece by gravity from said storing means; c. retainer means for normally retaining a rotatable workpiece in the block bore; d. means for pivoting said block from said position adjacent said storing means to a discharge position with said bore in a vertical position to feed the workpiece carried therein downwardly by gravity onto said loader mechanism base plate; and, e. means for releasing said retainer means when the block is pivoted to said discharge position.
 5. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. said means for pivoting said block comprises an actuating rod operated by a part of said machine.
 6. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. said means for pivoting said block comprises an actuating rod operated by a separate power means.
 7. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 4, wherein: A. said retainer means comprises a dog arm which is spring biased to a closed position; and, b. said releasing means comprises a cam disposed adjacent the pivot path of said block and arranged to engage said dog arm when the block is pivoted to the discharge position to move the dog arm to an open position to allow the workpiece inside the block to be discharged.
 8. In a machine for machining rotatable workpieces having a characteristic circle, a workhead for handling rotatable workpieces including: a. means for rotating a rotatable workpiece in a centerless manner about a first axis coaxial with the center of said characteristic circle at a work station; b. means for clamping the rotatable workpiece in said work station against axial movement; c. a loader mechanism for loading a rotatable workpiece into said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece; d. means for feeding rotatable workpieces into said loader mechanism; e. means for unloading a rotatable workpiece from said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece, comprising:
 9. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said pair of rotatable wheels comprise a pair of gears for rotating the rotatable gear workpieces.
 10. In a machine, the workhead structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. said resilient guide means comprises a spring means for moving a workpiece into meshing engagement with said other rotatable wheel.
 11. In a machine for machining rotatable workpieces having a characteristic circle, a workhead for handling rotatable workpieces comprising: a. means for loading a rotatable workpiece at a work station; b. means for unloading said rotatable workpiece from said work station; c. a pair of rotatable wheels which engage said rotatable workpiece at a characteristic circle on said workpiece; and, d. means for selectively braking one of said wheels to create a load on said rotatable workpiece during rotation of said workpiece by the other wheel.
 12. In a machine for machining rotatable gear workpieces having a characteristic circle, a workhead for handling rotatable workpieces comprising: a. means for loading a rotatable gear workpiece at a work station; b. means for unloading said rotatable gear workpiece from said work station; c. a pair of rotatable gears which engage said rotatable gear workpiece at the pitch circle on the gear workpiece; and, d. means for selectively braking one of said gears to create a load on the rotatable gear workpiece during rotation of the workpiece by the other gear.
 13. In a machine for machining rotatable workpieces having a characteristic circle, a workhead for handling rotatable workpieces including: a. means for rotating a rotatable workpiece in a centerless manner about a first axis coaxial with the center of said characteristic circle at a work station; b. a first roller operatively mounted at said work station for rollably engaging the lower end of a rotatable workpiece located in the work station; c. a second roller operatively mounted at said work station for rollably engaging the upper end of a rotatable workpiece located in the work station; d. means for movably supporting at least one of said rollers for movement toward and away from a workpiece in said work station for clamping and unclamping said workpiece against the other of said rollers; e. a loader mechanism for loading said rotatable workpiece into said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece; f. means for feeding rotatable workpieces into said loader mechanism; and, g. means for unloading a rotatable workpiece from said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece.
 14. In a machine for machining rotatable workpiecEs having a characteristic circle, a workhead for handling rotatable workpieces, including: a. a pair of rotatable wheels which engage a rotatable workpiece at a characteristic circle on the workpiece; b. means for clamping said rotatable workpiece in a work station against axial movement; c. means for selectively braking one of said rotatable wheels to create a load on the rotatable workpiece during rotation of the workpiece by the other wheel; d. clutch means operative at the end of a working cycle for disengaging said other wheel from a driving power source and for simultaneously engaging said one wheel to said driving power source, whereby said one wheel will eject the workpiece from said work station; e. a loader mechanism for loading a rotatable workpiece into said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece; f. means for feeding rotatable workpieces into said loader mechanism; and, g. means for unloading a rotatable workpiece from said means for rotating a rotatable workpiece. 